Israeli reservists, veterans, academics urge immediate end to Gaza war

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
11 Apr 2025 11:55
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Hundreds of Israeli military reservists, former officers, doctors, and academics emphasize that the continuation of the war on Gaza only serves political and personal interests.

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People take part in a protest demanding the immediate release of captives held in the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, Saturday, April 5, 2025 (AP)

A day after the publication of a letter by pilots from the Israeli Air Force calling for an end to the fighting and the return of the captives held in Gaza, reservists from Unit 8200 of the Israeli military's Intelligence Directorate have joined the call Friday — “even at the cost of immediately changing the course of the war.”

The letter, signed thus far by hundreds of current and former reservists, stated, “We support and identify with the grave and troubling assertion that, at this time, the war primarily serves political and personal interests, rather than security interests."

The reservists cautioned that "the continuation of the war contributes nothing to any of its declared goals" and will lead to the deaths of Israeli captives, soldiers, and civilians.

"We are deeply concerned by the erosion of the reserve force and the growing rates of non-attendance for reserve duty, and we are worried about the long-term consequences of this trend," they emphasized.

The reservists from Unit 8200 said that they rejected “a reality in which the political leadership continues the war as if it were a given, without communicating to the public a strategy for achieving its goals."

"We see Hamas still in control of the Gaza Strip and recruiting new operatives, while the government fails to present a credible plan to topple it," they noted.

The letter pointed out that captives were still "rotting in Hamas tunnels after a year and a half of military pressure," adding that the Israeli government "has not taken responsibility for the disaster and does not admit that it lacks a plan or a solution to the crisis — certainly not a military one, as has been clearly demonstrated."

The signatories underlined that only an agreement can bring back the captives from Gaza safely, adding, "Stop the war and bring the hostages home — now! Every passing day endangers their lives, and every additional moment of hesitation is a disgrace.”

The letters followed a similar public statement by nearly 1,000 veterans of the Israeli Air Force, including 60 active reservists, which was condemned by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Security Minister Israel Katz. Approximately 60 of the signatories are active IAF reservists and are likely to face dismissal.

Over 150 former naval officers say government moving further away from its obligation

In the same context, over 150 former naval officers and several reservist doctors signed letters published on Thursday, calling for an immediate halt to the war in Gaza to facilitate the swift return of the captives.

The letter from the retired naval officers, addressed to the prime minister, security minister, government members, Knesset, Israeli military leadership, and the Israeli public, accused the government of prioritizing "political and personal interests, and not security interests."

It said that the government "is moving further and further away from its obligation" to release the 59 remaining captives.

The signatories criticized the government's actions, emphasizing that it "raises serious concerns that security decisions are being dictated by illegitimate considerations.”

They argued that continuing the fighting only delays the captives' release, endangers soldiers, and harms civilians.

Dozens of reservist doctors demand an end to war

Additionally, dozens of reservist doctors signed a separate letter demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza to enable the return of the captives.

The doctors expressed that they now feel "painfully, that the continuation of the fighting in Gaza is primarily intended to serve political and personal interests, without a security purpose."

They asserted that continuing the war only endangers the lives of Israeli soldiers and the captives, citing the deaths of 40 captives during the Israeli military's ground invasion of Gaza.

Around 2,000 academics join petition

Moreover, the Israeli Channel 12 also reported that around 2,000 faculty members from higher education institutions have joined the petition protesting the continuation of the war on Gaza.

The academics underscored that only an agreement can bring back the captives, while military pressure often leads to their deaths, stressing that the war is now primarily serving political and personal interests, not security ones.